22B STi Hits the Auction Blocks, Expect a Big Number
One of only 400 built, the 22B STi is the absolute pinnacle of ’90s Subaru Performance. Now is a rare opportunity to buy one.
In the late 1990s, Subaru was on top of the world in rallying. Everywhere you looked throughout the world, Impreza models like the iconic 555 car driven by rally legend Collin McRae were dominating rally stages. Their iconic low rumble courtesy of the boxer four-cylinder engine echoing off the trees as their world-class symmetrical all-wheel drive system put the power down in the most slippery of conditions. Subaru won three consecutive FIA World Rally Championships just in time for its 40th anniversary, and that was cause for celebration.
That celebration came in the form of the 1998 Subaru Impreza 22B STi. Subaru only built 400 of these hyper-desirable turbocharged beasts. Right now, number 388 of those 400 is up for grabs on the auction website Bring A Trailer. With only around 20,000 miles on the odometer (32,000 kilometers), a feature in EVO Magazine, and near-factory-fresh perfection, this 22B is sure to bring a monumental sale price. At the time of writing, the auction has five days remaining and has already eclipsed $124,000.
Low Miles, High Price Tag
Subaru brought the 22B STi to the world between March and August 1998. All 400 bare the iconic World Rally Blue paint job and have legendary identifiable features like the adjustable rear wing, widened fenders compared to a standard Impreza, rocker extensions, and, of course, the iconic aluminum hood with the giant scoop to feed fresh cool air to the intercooler. It also has iconic gold 17-inch BBS wheels and special badging to identify that it is indeed a 22B.
Speaking of that intercooler, the fresh air from outside the car wasn’t quite enough cooling function for the 22B. So, it has a liquid-cooling system that can be activated with a button on the dash, too. When the turbocharged 2.2-liter boxer-four is working overtime, you’ve got to keep those charge temps in check. They’ll get up there, too, because the EJ22 in the 22B is particularly spicy. Subaru engineers squeezed 280 horsepower and 268 pound-feet of torqueout of it, and it feeds that power through a five-speed manual transmission to, as you’re likely aware, all four wheels. Pair that with Prodrive-tuned suspension, and the 22B is a fearsome weapon in any corner, be it tarmac or dirt.
A Timeless Time Capsule
Inside, the STi-branded 9,000-RPM tachometer sits behind a leather-wrapped Nardi steering wheel. This car has some additional gauges, like a boost gauge on the steering column, as well as oil temperature, voltage, and oil pressure gauges on the center console. It’s almost perfectly preserved both inside and out. In fact, in 2024, it underwent an extensive undercarriage cleaning followed by a protective wax-oil coating to prevent corrosion.
It’s not often you see such a rally-connected legend come up for sale, and we can’t wait to see what number it brings. As always, we have to hope the new owner will occasionally take it out for a spin. Given the mileage, though, it’s likely destined to be a showpiece more than a weekend warrior.
Photos: Bring A Trailer
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